GaryB

Budget around the £7k mark. To be used mainly by her indoors while I use the Honda but must be happy as a mile muncher for when we're all off somewhere together as a family.

I'm thinking 330i E46 drop top. Not a massive fan of the looks but Beemer build quality, RWD, decent poke and refined enough.

Must be fun to drive and my last couple of E46's were nice in that respect.

Opinions please...

Nick Graves

I'm not convinced by butchering the roof off a coupe like that; must it be a rag top?

No real problem with the E46 bit, merely with taking a padsaw to it...

GaryB

That was my concern as I've not driven one myself so not sure what the chassis is like without the roof. She really wants a rag top as everywhere she goes in the Honda the roof is down.

dinibird

I may be shot down in flames for this, but why not take a look at the old style Audi 80 cabriolet? I am a bit biased as I had the coupe shape, last year they made them, and loved it to bits. You should be able to get a later year model (2000 last year manufactured) for around £4-6K.
In my view, although it might look dated to some, it's classic simple lines are just lovely. I know 10 years old is perhaps a bit old for some, but you'd be able to get a top top example. May not be your (or your wife's) cup of tea, but my old one (was 9 when I got it, and 12 when I PX'ed it for my S2K) did me very well. 118k on the clock and plenty of life left.
They came in beautiful colours too, my coupe was emerald green - gorgeous.

Rob88

What are you putting in the back seats?
Kids or adults?

I used to have a Pug 306 roadster.
4 seats, decent 2l 16v engine, it was a nice fun FWD car.
Although, it might be a bit cheap and dated for what you want now.

I’ve now got an Audi A4 cabrio.
Also 4 decent seats, 2.5; diesel for munching the miles and all the good stuff you expect from an Audi.
Although it might be a bit more expensive than 7k.

When I was looking for a replacement to the Pug I tried a lot of ragtops.
The Saabs all had very poor back seats (apparently newer models are better), the Volvo wasn’t bad but it lacked flair, the mercs had tiny backseats.

The Beemer is probably a good choice.
Although you could check out the Megane and Astra.
For 7k you might get a better quality Megane rather than a beaten beemer.

simonprelude

Can you get a CLK for that budget (I'd imagine you can now) but I had one as a courtesy car a while ago and whilst it didn't set my world on fire it was a reliable comfy drive.

Polemicist

I had an 80 Cabriolet. A nice looking car but the chassis twisted like a corkscrew.

Be wary of the wring loom to the boot lid, it suffers from fatigue and buggers up the central locking.

phil121081

astra is awful....barge pole required, longer the better.

GaryB

Back seats are for half size people (two 10yr olds).

From what I've seen, the Beemer ticks the boxes for being rwd and a nice drive although as I've said I've not driven the ragtop version so for all I know it could be like a curly wurly...

Anyone driven one?

Rob88

For me it would be between the BMW 3 and the Audi A4.
If you want RWD and something not too old then I think your only choice is the BMW.

If you're happy with FWD then something like this Audi A4.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/adv...age/2?logcode=p

If you want FWD and less prestige then a 'newish' Pug 307 is in the price range.

I haven't driven the BMW, but I have go an Audi.
It's a perfectly nice car. The roof seals well, plenty of boot space when roof is up or down, plenty of leg room, nice dash.
It's got a good turn of speed when needed.